Biodiversity of native prairie including the flora and fauna is important to PCAP as seen through our ecosystem goal and various workplan deliverables. As 2010 is the International Year of Biodiversity, PCAP has been doing its part to promote the importance of biodiversity through a couple of activities associated with the Canadian Environmental Network (RCEN). The RCEN launched a Best Practices/Case Studies Contest to gather innovative and effective examples of environmental non-government organizations’ (ENGOs) work related to the conservation, sustainable use, and awareness of biodiversity. The selected

case studies/best practices were featured in a 20-page handbook that would be included as an annex to Canada’s Fourth National Report to the Convention on Biological Diversity in preparation of the tenth meeting of the Parties to the Convention from October 18-29, 2010 in Nagoya, Japan. PCAP was selected as the Saskatchewan example and a copy of this handbook can be found on the PCAP website under “Literature.”

The RCEN also put out a call looking for ENGOs in every province and territory to organize outreach & educational activities to promote the importance of biodiversity for development and to help Canadians learn how they can make a difference in May 2010. PCAP’s submission to partner with the Friends of Wascana Marsh’s Wings Over Wascana (WOW) festival to increase awareness and education about the importance and value of biodiversity within Saskatchewan’s native prairie was selected as the Saskatchewan activity.

WOW is an annual outdoor nature festival held during the second week of May in Regina to educate local urban residents of all ages about the biodiversity within Regina’s Wascana Marsh and the prairie that surrounds the city. On the WOW Education Day, Grades 4— 6 students from Regina and surrounding area will explore Wascana Marsh to learn about wetlands, wildlife and biodiversity through a variety of nature awareness hands-on activities including bird watching, pond dipping, guided hikes, eco-games, field sketching and a special presentation from Wayne Lynch. On the WOW Public Day, urban residents of all ages will participate in similar activities to the Education Day including:

• Pond dipping, ecotreks, bird watching and live animal presentations on the Great

Horned Owl, Short-eared Owl, Bull Snake and Bats

• Games including Biodiversity Bash that incorporates the childhood games of

Concentration & Simon Says to explain what biodiversity is and highlight prairie species

• Planting of 9 different native grasses, 4 species of native flowering plants and native milkweed (to attract monarchs) in the Habitat Conservation Area within Wascana Centre. (This is an area set aside for wildlife within the park but is currently dominated by tame grass species. The planting of the native grasses and flowers will increase the biodiversity of this area).

For more information on WOW and events, visit www.wascanamarsh.ca/wow10.htm.

G R E E T I N G S F R O M P C A P M A N A G E R , M I C H E L L E Y A S K OW I C H

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V O L U M E 2 , I S S U E 5

P C A P N E W S L E T T E R

Compiled by:

Melissa Ranalli , Michelle Yaskowich

and Julie Fisowich

R O Y A L S A S K A T C H E WA N

M U S E U M U P D A T E

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S A S K A T C H E WA N R E S E A R C H C O U N C I L U P D A T E

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W H Y C O MM O N

S P E C I E S M A T T E R 4

W H Y C O MM O N S P E C I E S M A T T E R

( C O N T ’ D )

5

R E S E A R C H F R O M

T H E F I E L D 6

A N O T H E R P C A P

S U C C E S S S T O R Y 6

U P C O M I N G E V E N T S

A N D W O R K S H O P S 8

P L A N T WA T C H

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S P E C I A L P O I N T S O F

I N T E R E S T :

• See page 5 for a highlight of

the Alliance for the Grass-

lands, one of PCAP’s interna-

tional affiliates

• Visit the Saskatchewan For-

age Council website at

www.saskforage.ca to view

The Value of Saskatchewan’s

Forage Industry: A Multi-level

Analysis report.

I N S I D E T H I S I S S U E :

Prairie Conservation and the Royal Saskatchewan Museum (RSM) Prairie Conservation and the Royal Saskatchewan Museum (RSM) Prairie Conservation and the Royal Saskatchewan Museum (RSM) Prairie Conservation and the Royal Saskatchewan Museum (RSM)

Dr. Glenn Sutter, Head of Biology and Environmental Studies

As one of the oldest institutions in the province, the RSM has been encouraging prairie conservation through its exhibits, public programs, and scientific research since 1906. Some of our early conservation work focused on locating nests and raising awareness about the plight of the Whooping Crane, at a time when only a few dozen of these birds remained. Later, we helped to raise concern about the Burrowing Owl just as the provincial population of this species went into a steep decline. Now, prairie plants and animals – including several species at risk – are featured in five major dioramas in the Life Sciences Gallery, which opened in 2001 and continues to attract over 100,000 visitors and thousands of school children each year. We also offer grade-school education programs that explore the value of prairie as wildlife habitat, making use of selected specimens and a native prairie garden that was planted on the Museum grounds in the 1990s. Other programs developed through the RSM Associates (Friends of the Museum) are designed to draw people into the Galleries and our 300-seat theatre.

Exhibits and public programs are the most visible parts of the RSM, but there is also exciting scientific research and collections work going on behind the scenes. Most of the research aimed at native prairie conservation is carried out by the Biology and Environmental Studies Unit (or BESt Unit), with a focus on species at risk and sustainability education. Recent projects have focused on:

• Studying owl pellets (regurgitated food items) to assess small mammal distributions across the prairies, including

species such as Sagebrush Voles, Western Harvest Mice and other rare species,

• Radio-tracking Eastern Yellow-bellied Racers to determine which habitats features are essential for these

threatened snakes,

• Monitoring Burrowing Owl populations

• Assessing the value of crop conversion land as habitat for Burrowing Owls,

hawks, ground squirrels, badgers, small mammals and grasshoppers,

• Using stable isotope analysis to age Burrowing Owls and to study the poten-

tial impacts of agriculture on Deer Mice,

• Studying aquatic invertebrates populations to assess the health of the

Frenchman River and its role in community-based ecosystem management,

• Assessing the impact of pipeline construction on Sprague’s Pipit and Vesper

Sparrow breeding behaviour and nesting success, and

• Evaluating visitor responses to museum exhibits, including displays that deal

with prairie conservation and sustainability issues.

As well as conducting research, the BESt Unit is responsible for developing and maintaining the provincial biology collections, which include several extinct or extirpated species (e.g., Passenger Pigeon and Greater Prairie Chicken), and a few specimens that date back to the late 1880s. With over 2,000 mammals, 5,500 plants, 11,000 birds, and 100,000 arthropods, the collections provide a wealth of biological information, and we are constantly looking to add specimens. Donations are always welcome in this light, especially if the item is in reasonable shape (essentially anything short of road pizza!) and it comes with details about where and when it was collected.

Over the next 2 years, the BESt Unit will be undertaking a major assessment project to bring the storage and organiza-tion of the biology collections up to museum standards. This is no small task since some collections are spread across several locations and many paper records need to be updated and digitized. In the end, our aim is to enhance the value of these specimens by making digital information about them available to scientists in other parts of the world. We will be launching into this part of the project in coming months, so watch our website (www.royalsaskmuseum.ca)

R O Y A L S A S K A T C H E W A N M U S E U M U P D A T E

Page 2 P C A P N E W S L E T T E R

Three hungry Sprague’s Pipit chicks. This

threatened songbird prefers to nest in large

parcels of native prairie with moderate

cover. (Photo by Dr. Glenn Sutter)

Page 3 V O L U M E 2 , I S S U E 5

S A S K A T C H E W A N R E S E A R C H C O U N C I L U P D A T E

Bob Godwin, Associate Research Scientist

What is SRC’s role?What is SRC’s role?What is SRC’s role?What is SRC’s role?

SRC's mission is to help the people of Saskatchewan strengthen the economy with quality jobs and a secure environment. We do this through research, development, and the transfer of innovative scientific and technological solutions, applications and services.

Our backgroundOur backgroundOur backgroundOur background The SRC was established in 1947 by the Saskatchewan Provincial Government. The potential for science and technology to improve the lives of Saskatchewan people was recognized by the government and grants-in-aid for specific applied research activities funded the SRC. Initially the SRC had 3 employees, but this number expanded in the 1950’s as key areas needing long term research were identified. These areas included water resources, fuels, transportation, metallic and industrial minerals, industrial methods improvement, and the environment. In the 1970’s SRC changed to a more client centred approach where rather than being structured along academic discipline lines (e.g. chemistry, physics) sectoral units were established (e.g. oil, energy conservation). SRC became less dependent on government revenues as the government priorities changed and by 1973 SRC was receiving the majority of its revenue from contractual sources, with this percentage steadily increasing as SRC has grown to a company currently employing more than 370 people. The SRC has evolved from a government directed organization to one overseen by a board of directors whose current members represent private business and academia, as well as the finance, legal, and the health sectors. The SRC currently works on a cost recovery basis in dealing with its clients.

SRC has five business divisions that serve clients in these sectors:

• Agriculture, Biotechnology and Food

• Alternative Energy and Manufacturing

• Energy

• Environment and Forestry

• Mining and Minerals

What does the SRC do that is relevant to Prairie conservation?What does the SRC do that is relevant to Prairie conservation?What does the SRC do that is relevant to Prairie conservation?What does the SRC do that is relevant to Prairie conservation? People within what is now the Ecosystems and Geomatics unit of the Environment and Forestry division have been involved with prairie conservation and management concerns for almost 30 years. While many projects have been related to classification and management of prairie ecosystems, research related to the potential impacts that climate change may bring to the ecology and economy as well as social aspects of the province has been conducted recently. Examples of some of the types of projects the SRC has worked on that have supported conservation and management of grassland ecosystems in Saskatchewan include:

• Development of the first range plan development guide specifically for Saskatchewan in 1990

• Vegetation and grazing management plans for several provincial parks and other non provincially managed land units

• Development of assessment tools for grazed areas of grassland and wooded portions of the landscape

• Examination of competition for grassland resources between cattle and native ungulates within sandhill environments

• Examination of threats to biodiversity in Saskatchewan

• Initial development of species at risk survey methods, surveys for species at risk, and examination of habitat variables relative to species at risk

• Determination of potential impacts of climate change on rangeland carrying capacities and how climate change may change plant communities

• Defining and describing ecosites and communities, and processes that cause shifts in the plant communi-ties for each ecosite for Saskatchewan’s Prairie Ecozone

Page 4

P C A P N E W S L E T T E R

W H Y C O M M O N S P E C I E S M A T T E R — N A T U R E C O N S E R V A N C Y O F C A N A D A

Recognizing the Importance of “Every Cog and Wheel” in Nature’s DiversityRecognizing the Importance of “Every Cog and Wheel” in Nature’s DiversityRecognizing the Importance of “Every Cog and Wheel” in Nature’s DiversityRecognizing the Importance of “Every Cog and Wheel” in Nature’s Diversity

We often hear a lot about rare, endangered or disappearing species — species that are in need of swift action to save them. There is no doubt that they are important to talk about.

But what about the common species? After all, some rare species, like American Chestnut, Woodland Caribou and Lake Sturgeon, are also just once common species fallen into hard times.

Common species are important in conservation because we want them to remain common. The Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC) works to identify, protect and manage the best examples of all ecosystems so that the full range of species and communities, rare or common is conserved. By protecting land for all species, we help to ensure that common ones won't also follow the way of the Dodo.

Once Common, Now GoneOnce Common, Now GoneOnce Common, Now GoneOnce Common, Now Gone

Sometimes we don't understand the connections between species until it's too late.

Wild Lupine was once abundant across the great prairie and savannah habitats of the Rice Lake Plains. In her book Canadian Crusoes, Catharine Parr Traill, a pioneer of the Rice Lake Plains era in the 1830s, recounts: "the azure lupine claimed its place, shedding almost a heavenly tint upon the earth." The larvae of Karner Blue butterflies used the native wildflower as its primary food source.

Now, due to the loss of enormous areas of oak savannah habitat and with it Wild Lupine, the Karner Blue is extirpated (locally extinct) from Ontario and the rest of Canada.

Trophic CascadesTrophic CascadesTrophic CascadesTrophic Cascades

Common species often play important roles in helping to balance ecosystems. Whether controlling systems from the top down as do predators like wolves, or from the bottom up as do zooplankton in the Great Lakes, the loss of once common species can have far-reaching impacts on an ecosystem.

Take, for example, the return of wolves to Yellowstone National Park. Since the deliberate eradication of wolves from Yellowstone in the early 1900s, Elk numbers dramatically increased, flourishing under predator-free conditions. The Elk began to heavily browse the willows and cottonwoods that grow in areas along rivers and streams. Soon after, trout numbers began declining. The protective vegetation, now removed, caused the once clear rivers to turn murky and too warm.

With the reintroduction of wolves to Yellowstone in 1995, Elk numbers were reduced, riverbank vegetation returned, and the cooling and clearing of the rivers allowed the trout to return. Stories like this abound throughout nature, making it all the more important to protect all native species, rare or not. In the famous words of ecologist Aldo Leopold, "To keep every cog and wheel is the first precaution of intelligent tinkering."

Keystone SpeciesKeystone SpeciesKeystone SpeciesKeystone Species

Keystone species may not be the most abundant species in the ecosystem, but their presence has a big impact on the overall diversity and function of their community.

The American Beaver is a great example of a keystone species. The beaver changes its habitat to make access to trees easier and to avoid predators. By damming waterways, beavers create a whole new habitat and can influence an entire watershed.

(continued on page 5)

Page 5

(continued from page 4)

The flooding creates open ponds. Aquatic plants expand into new areas and flooded trees die, providing new habitat for woodpeckers, herons and Osprey. Some species of frogs, ducks, fish and insects all benefit from the new habitat, while others may be forced to move on. Whatever the impact, it's clear that a single beaver's actions have intricate and cascading effects on an ecosystem.

The protection of species like the American Beaver is therefore critical to protecting entire ecosystems, many of which also support rare species.

Indicator SpeciesIndicator SpeciesIndicator SpeciesIndicator Species

Although many frog species are common, they are particularly sensitive to the quality of their habitat whose changes in population can point to problems in the environment. Frogs can breathe through their skin; behaviour made possible by the skin's semi-permeability.

It is this semi-permeable skin that also makes them great indicators of the health of an ecosystem (or "bioindicators"). Oxygen from the water is absorbed into the bloodstream as water permeates the skin, but so too are pollutants. This can lead to population declines or, as has been observed, physical mutations like fifth legs. Indicator species are often impacted by a combination of effects like pollution and UV radiation.

Protecting and monitoring frog populations provides insight into the health of the ecosystems they inhabit. This helps inform management planning by bringing environmental problems like pollution to our attention, allowing us to mitigate the problems and protect all of the species affected.

How Does It All Fit TogetherHow Does It All Fit TogetherHow Does It All Fit TogetherHow Does It All Fit Together

We could once claim ignorance of our long-term impacts on the land, but we now know much more about the interdependence of species and ecosystems and the complex web of all living things, including humans. Now we know how to help prevent the extirpation of the next Karner Blue.

So, when we protect habitat for common species like American Beaver, this part of our work has important, long-term benefits for all the common species like beavers that find a home in protected areas.

The story of the Karner Blue is compelling, but it is also a sombre one. The fewer stories like them that we have to tell over the years, the more we'll know that conservation, whether it is on a local, national or global scope, is really working the way that conservationists dream it should.

Find this article at: www.natureconservancy.ca/site/PageServer?pagename=ncc_work_feature38Find this article at: www.natureconservancy.ca/site/PageServer?pagename=ncc_work_feature38Find this article at: www.natureconservancy.ca/site/PageServer?pagename=ncc_work_feature38Find this article at: www.natureconservancy.ca/site/PageServer?pagename=ncc_work_feature38

V O L U M E 2 , I S S U E 5

A PCAP International Affiliate: Alliance for the GrasslandsA PCAP International Affiliate: Alliance for the GrasslandsA PCAP International Affiliate: Alliance for the GrasslandsA PCAP International Affiliate: Alliance for the Grasslands————Initiative for the Conservation of the Initiative for the Conservation of the Initiative for the Conservation of the Initiative for the Conservation of the

South American Southern Cone GrasslandsSouth American Southern Cone GrasslandsSouth American Southern Cone GrasslandsSouth American Southern Cone Grasslands

The Alliance for the Grasslands - Initiative for the Conservation of the South American Southern Cone Grasslands was

launched by the family of organizations dedicated to the conservation and study of wild birds in the four South American

countries which share the great biome of the “Pampas” or grasslands of the Southern Cone of the continent: Aves

Argentinas, Aves Uruguay, SAVE Brazil and Guyra Paraguay. The Mission of the alliance is to conserve the Southern

Cone natural grasslands through coordinated actions between Uruguay, Paraguay, Brazil and Argentina - including

producers, civil organizations, academia and governments - within a framework of harmonic and sustainable

development in the region. For more information on the Alliance for the Grasslands, visit their website at:

www.pastizalesdelconosur.orgwww.pastizalesdelconosur.orgwww.pastizalesdelconosur.orgwww.pastizalesdelconosur.org

Page 6

The Viability of Creating Wetlands for the Sale of Carbon OffsetsThe Viability of Creating Wetlands for the Sale of Carbon OffsetsThe Viability of Creating Wetlands for the Sale of Carbon OffsetsThe Viability of Creating Wetlands for the Sale of Carbon Offsets

LeRoy T. Hansen

AbstractAbstractAbstractAbstract

This analysis estimates the profitability of restoring wetlands for the sale of carbon offsets.

Results indicate that about 7% to 12% of the recently restored grassed wetlands of the prairie pothole and high plains regions and 20% to 35% of the forested wetlands of the Mississippi alluvial valley and Gulf-Atlantic coastal flats regions could have carbon offset values that exceed the cost of restoring the wetland and the opportunity cost of moving the land out of agricultural production. Given the uncertainties, the analysis applies conservative estimates of wetlands’ costs, offset prices, and wetlands’ effects on

greenhouse gases.

Key wordsKey wordsKey wordsKey words: carbon markets, carbon sequestration, offsets, wetland restoration

This article can be found at AgEcon’s website: http://ageconsearch.umn.edu/bitstream/54551/2/JARE%http://ageconsearch.umn.edu/bitstream/54551/2/JARE%http://ageconsearch.umn.edu/bitstream/54551/2/JARE%http://ageconsearch.umn.edu/bitstream/54551/2/JARE%

2cAug09%2c%2308R%2cpp3502cAug09%2c%2308R%2cpp3502cAug09%2c%2308R%2cpp3502cAug09%2c%2308R%2cpp350----365.pdf365.pdf365.pdf365.pdf

and in the Journal of Agricultural and Resource Economics Journal of Agricultural and Resource Economics Journal of Agricultural and Resource Economics Journal of Agricultural and Resource Economics in volume 34(2), p. 350-365 (2009).

R E S E A R C H F R OM T H E F I E L D

P C A P N E W S L E T T E R

PCAP Success Story: Another Speaker Series ConnectionPCAP Success Story: Another Speaker Series ConnectionPCAP Success Story: Another Speaker Series ConnectionPCAP Success Story: Another Speaker Series Connection

At the February Speaker Series in Weyburn, Steve Davis, a Wildlife Biologist with the Canadian Wildlife

Service, was in attendance as one of his Master’s students, Holly Kalyn-Bogard was presenting on the

effects of gas development on grassland birds. After Holly’s presentation, several consultants

approached Steve and informed him of a new oil development on the Tecumseh community pasture

that he was unaware of. Not having the expertise within their organization, they were interested in his

technical help in advance of the oil project. The consultants also suggested they might be able to

provide financial support for a graduate student to work on the project. Steve agreed to be involved,

and is awaiting more information.

If you have a PCAP success story that you would like to share with the newsletter readership, If you have a PCAP success story that you would like to share with the newsletter readership, If you have a PCAP success story that you would like to share with the newsletter readership, If you have a PCAP success story that you would like to share with the newsletter readership,

please contact Michelle at (306) 352please contact Michelle at (306) 352please contact Michelle at (306) 352please contact Michelle at (306) 352----0472 or pcap@sasktel.net. 0472 or pcap@sasktel.net. 0472 or pcap@sasktel.net. 0472 or pcap@sasktel.net.

Photos by DUC.

Page 7 V O L U M E 2 , I S S U E 5

H O W D O E S W A T C H I N G P L A N T S H E L P

W I T H C L I M A T E C H A N G E R E S E A R C H ?

Do you want to enjoy nature, observe plants, and help monitor the effects of climate change? Then become a PlantWatcher. It’s free, it’s fun, and people of all ages and skill levels can participate! “Plant watching is a great outdoor activity, and a great way to learn about Saskatchewan plants and climate change,” says Deanna Trows-dale-Mutafov, the PlantWatch Saskatchewan Coordinator. “By volunteering a small amount of time to watch and record the blooming of common plants, you will be part of a world-wide monitoring effort to document biological responses of plants to climate change.”

PlantWatch encourages people of all ages to help scientists discover how quickly our natural environment is changing. PlantWatch enables ‘citizen scientists’ to get involved by recording flowering times for selected plant species during the spring and summer. PlantWatch Saskatchewan has 20 plants to watch, including common ones like the Dandelion, Crocus, Lilac and Saskatoon.

It’s easy to help! Participants submit flowering dates of the plant(s) that they are observing either by mailing in a PlantWatch datasheet, or entering data on the website www.plantwatch.ca. The data is looked at for trends or patterns that are developing due to the changing climate. Since plants flower largely in response to the amount of warmth they are exposed to, earlier flowering occurs after warmer winters and later flowering occurs after colder winters.

The Canadian PlantWatch program is part of the NatureWatch series of volunteer monitoring programs. Every province and territory has a PlantWatch program. PlantWatch is delivered by Nature Saskatchewan, with support from SaskPower and Environment Canada’s EcoAction program.

You can learn more about the PlantWatch program, and become a participant, by calling Nature Saskatchewan at 1-800- 667-4668 or 780-9273 (in Regina), or by e-mail at plantwatch@naturesask.ca.

You can find great plantwatching information on the website www.naturewatch.ca, under PlantWatch, as well as information on the other NatureWatch monitoring programs: FrogWatch, WormWatch and IceWatch.

Wednesday June 23 & Thursday June 24, 2010Wednesday June 23 & Thursday June 24, 2010Wednesday June 23 & Thursday June 24, 2010Wednesday June 23 & Thursday June 24, 2010

Based out of Swift Current, SKBased out of Swift Current, SKBased out of Swift Current, SKBased out of Swift Current, SK

A Workshop & Tour held in Conjunction with Saskatchewan’s A Workshop & Tour held in Conjunction with Saskatchewan’s A Workshop & Tour held in Conjunction with Saskatchewan’s A Workshop & Tour held in Conjunction with Saskatchewan’s

12121212thththth Annual Native Prairie Appreciation Week (NPAW) June 20 Annual Native Prairie Appreciation Week (NPAW) June 20 Annual Native Prairie Appreciation Week (NPAW) June 20 Annual Native Prairie Appreciation Week (NPAW) June 20----26, 201026, 201026, 201026, 2010

“Ranching From the Ground Up!”“Ranching From the Ground Up!”“Ranching From the Ground Up!”“Ranching From the Ground Up!”

Visit www.pcapVisit www.pcapVisit www.pcapVisit www.pcap----sk.org/ under NPAW for more information and a registration form. sk.org/ under NPAW for more information and a registration form. sk.org/ under NPAW for more information and a registration form. sk.org/ under NPAW for more information and a registration form.

Page 8

Friends of Wascana Marsh Fundraising Dinner Friends of Wascana Marsh Fundraising Dinner Friends of Wascana Marsh Fundraising Dinner Friends of Wascana Marsh Fundraising Dinner ———— Guest Speaker: Dr. Wayne Lynch, Canada’s best known profes- Guest Speaker: Dr. Wayne Lynch, Canada’s best known profes- Guest Speaker: Dr. Wayne Lynch, Canada’s best known profes- Guest Speaker: Dr. Wayne Lynch, Canada’s best known profes-

sional wildlife photographer sional wildlife photographer sional wildlife photographer sional wildlife photographer

May 6, 2010 - Jacqui Schumiatcher Room, Conexus Arts Centre, 200A Lakeshore Drive, Regina, SK

Tickets are $50 for adults, $40 for students, and $375 for corporate tables of eight.

To purchase tickets, contact Ramona Clarke at (306) 531-9759 or email friendsofwascanamarsh@gmail.com.

Fifth Annual Wings Over Wascana Nature FestivalFifth Annual Wings Over Wascana Nature FestivalFifth Annual Wings Over Wascana Nature FestivalFifth Annual Wings Over Wascana Nature Festival

May 7-8, 2010 - Regina, SK

All activities are free! Please visit www.wascanamarsh.ca for event information.

Cypress Hills 2010: Biodiversity in SouthCypress Hills 2010: Biodiversity in SouthCypress Hills 2010: Biodiversity in SouthCypress Hills 2010: Biodiversity in South----western Saskatchewan Ecosystems western Saskatchewan Ecosystems western Saskatchewan Ecosystems western Saskatchewan Ecosystems ---- A National Biodiversity Education A National Biodiversity Education A National Biodiversity Education A National Biodiversity Education Field Workshop Field Workshop Field Workshop Field Workshop ---- Canadian Wildlife Federation Canadian Wildlife Federation Canadian Wildlife Federation Canadian Wildlife Federation May 10-14, 2010 - Regina, SK Putting the Pieces Together: Advanced Range Health Assessment and Planning Workshop Putting the Pieces Together: Advanced Range Health Assessment and Planning Workshop Putting the Pieces Together: Advanced Range Health Assessment and Planning Workshop Putting the Pieces Together: Advanced Range Health Assessment and Planning Workshop ---- Saskatchewan Water- Saskatchewan Water- Saskatchewan Water- Saskatchewan Water-

shed Authority, Moose Jaw River Watershed Stewards Inc. and the Saskatchewan Research Councilshed Authority, Moose Jaw River Watershed Stewards Inc. and the Saskatchewan Research Councilshed Authority, Moose Jaw River Watershed Stewards Inc. and the Saskatchewan Research Councilshed Authority, Moose Jaw River Watershed Stewards Inc. and the Saskatchewan Research Council

May 11-13, 2010 - Moose Jaw, SK - Prairie Oasis Motel

Please visit www.prairie-oasis.com for more information.

Breeding Bird Survey TrainingBreeding Bird Survey TrainingBreeding Bird Survey TrainingBreeding Bird Survey Training————Nature Saskatchewan Nature Saskatchewan Nature Saskatchewan Nature Saskatchewan May 14-15, 2010 - Last Mountain Bird Observatory near Govan, SK 2010 Annual National Conference 2010 Annual National Conference 2010 Annual National Conference 2010 Annual National Conference ---- Canadian Network for Environmental Education & Communication (EECOM) Canadian Network for Environmental Education & Communication (EECOM) Canadian Network for Environmental Education & Communication (EECOM) Canadian Network for Environmental Education & Communication (EECOM) May 19-22, 2010 - Vancouver, BC - Simon Fraser University Baillie Birdathon Baillie Birdathon Baillie Birdathon Baillie Birdathon ———— Nature Saskatchewan Nature Saskatchewan Nature Saskatchewan Nature Saskatchewan May 22, 2010 - Last Mountain Bird Observatory near Govan, SK Women's Outdoor Weekend Women's Outdoor Weekend Women's Outdoor Weekend Women's Outdoor Weekend ---- Saskatchewan Wildlife Federation Saskatchewan Wildlife Federation Saskatchewan Wildlife Federation Saskatchewan Wildlife Federation May 29-30, 2010 - Pike Lake Provincial Park and Saskatoon Wildlife Federation For more information contact Jean Anne Prysliak (306) 692-8812 Bison on the Edge Conference Bison on the Edge Conference Bison on the Edge Conference Bison on the Edge Conference ---- Sturgeon River Plains Bison Sturgeon River Plains Bison Sturgeon River Plains Bison Sturgeon River Plains Bison StewardsStewardsStewardsStewards June 8-10, 2010 - Big River, SK For more information, visit www.bisonstewards.ca/events.html 2010 Saskatchewan Pasture School2010 Saskatchewan Pasture School2010 Saskatchewan Pasture School2010 Saskatchewan Pasture School

June 16-17, 2010 - Best Western Harvest Inn, Saskatoon, SK

For more information, contact the Saskatchewan Forage Council at (306) 966-2148 or office@saskforage.ca

“Ranching from the Ground Up” “Ranching from the Ground Up” “Ranching from the Ground Up” “Ranching from the Ground Up” ---- Society for Range Management Workshop & Tour held in conjunction with NPAW Society for Range Management Workshop & Tour held in conjunction with NPAW Society for Range Management Workshop & Tour held in conjunction with NPAW Society for Range Management Workshop & Tour held in conjunction with NPAW

June 23-24, 2010—Based out of Swift Current, SK For more information, visit www.pcap-sk.org or www.naturesask.ca Teaching and Learning with Monarch Butterflies Teaching and Learning with Monarch Butterflies Teaching and Learning with Monarch Butterflies Teaching and Learning with Monarch Butterflies ---- Monarch Teacher Network Monarch Teacher Network Monarch Teacher Network Monarch Teacher Network July 26-27, 2010 - Regina, SK Space is limited so apply early. Rare Plant Survey Techniques Course 2010 Rare Plant Survey Techniques Course 2010 Rare Plant Survey Techniques Course 2010 Rare Plant Survey Techniques Course 2010 ---- Native Plant Society of Saskatchewan Native Plant Society of Saskatchewan Native Plant Society of Saskatchewan Native Plant Society of Saskatchewan July 28-30, 2010 - Saskatoon, SK Email Chet Neufeld at the Native Plant Society of Saskatchewan (info@npss.sk.ca) for more information.

U P C OM I N G E V E N T S A N D W O R K S H O P S

P C A P N E W S L E T T E R

Wascana Marsh Photo: Murray Bryck

PO Box 4752

Regina, SK S4P 3Y4

Phone: (306) 352-0472

Fax: (306) 569-8799

E-mail: pcap@sasktel.net (Michelle)

The Prairie Conservation Action Plan Prairie Conservation Action Plan Prairie Conservation Action Plan Prairie Conservation Action Plan (PCAP) (PCAP) (PCAP) (PCAP) Partnership brings together a genc ies an d or gan iz at i ons representing producers, industry, provincial & federal governments, non-government organizations and research & educational institutions working towards a common vision of prair ie and spec ies at r isk conservation in Saskatchewan.

Our Mission:Our Mission:Our Mission:Our Mission: The PCAP partnership represents the collaborative efforts of multiple interests toward promoting and conserving Saskatchewan's native prairie. The PCAP Partners work together to deliver innovative and critical prairie conservation activities that represent the shared objectives of a diverse mix of stakeholders and that benefit the social, cultural, economic and ecological fabric of Saskatchewan.

Our Ecosystem Goal:Our Ecosystem Goal:Our Ecosystem Goal:Our Ecosystem Goal: Native prairie ecosystem health and biodiversity are conserved and restored as part of a functioning landscape.

Our Economic Goal:Our Economic Goal:Our Economic Goal:Our Economic Goal: Sustainable uses of native prairie improve the liveli-hoods of Saskatchewan people.

Our Cultural Goal:Our Cultural Goal:Our Cultural Goal:Our Cultural Goal: Native prairie is a valued part of our culture and identity as Saskatchewan people.

P R A I R I E C O N S E R V A T I O N A C T I O N P L A N

www.pcap-sk.org

Focus Groups:Focus Groups:Focus Groups:Focus Groups:

At Home on the Prairie

Prospering with Prairie

Caring for Prairie

Accounting for Prairie

A Working Prairie

OUR VISION:

HEALTHY NATIVE PRAIRIE ECOSYSTEMS AS VITAL PARTS OF

OUR VIBRANT AND STRONG COMMUNITIES.

The PCAP gratefully acknowledges funding and in-kind support in 2010-2011 from:

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) through Agri-Environment Services Branch (AESB) and Semiarid Prairie

Agricultural Research Centre (SPARC), the Carl Block Memorial Stewardship Education Fund (CBMSEF), Cattle

Marketing Deductions Fund (CMDF), Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC), EnCana Corporation, Environment Canada (EC)

through the Canadian Wildlife Service (CWS), Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO), Government of Canada Habitat

Stewardship Program for Species at Risk (HSP), Horned Cattle Purchases Fund (HCPF), Nature Conservancy of

Canada (NCC), Nature Saskatchewan (NS), Parks Canada - Grasslands National Park of Canada (PC-GNP), Penn

West Energy Trust, Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities (SARM), Saskatchewan Burrowing Owl

Interpretive Centre (SBOIC), Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture (SMA), Saskatchewan Ministry of Environment

(SME), Saskatchewan Ministry of Environment – Fish and Wildlife Development Fund (FWDF), Saskatchewan Ministry

of Tourism, Parks, Culture and Sport – Royal Saskatchewan Museum (RSM), Saskatchewan Stock Growers Association

(SSGA), Saskatchewan Watershed Authority (SWA), SaskEnergy, SaskPower, TransCanada Corporation, University of

Regina (UofR) and University of Saskatchewan – College of Agriculture and Bioresources (UofS).